Improvement in mine-pumps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

THOMAS M. FELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN MINE-PUMPS.

Specification forming part` of Letters `Patent No. 47,28?, dated April 18, 1865; antedate April 7, 1865.

accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in so combining specilic devices with steam and pneumatic power that the eiiective force ot' steam direct for the purpose ot' working pumps will thereby effect a considerable saving in boiler capacity.

ln order to explain the dil'erenee between my plan ot direct action and vthe present arrangement for draining mines, l state that a Cornish pumping-engine with appurtenances consists of a set ot' pumps placi d down the shaft of a mine at intervals of about one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty feet, the whole communicating with an immense beam or rod, driven by a large balancegear, &c., propelled by corresponding powerful steam engines and boilers, the large iirst cost of which constitute the principal expense in starting a new mine.

The combination and arrangement for using the direct action of steam consists as follows:

Figs. l and 2 represent vertical longitudinal sections or front and side views; Fig. 3, plan or cross-section; Fig. 4, a general view showing the counter-weight and frame 5 Fig. 5, vertical section of pump; and Fig. 6, plan of pipe and lifting-rods.

A is a steam-cylinder with air-holes at the mark 2, fed by steam from a boiler, at about fty pounds per square inch, by the supplyvalve B, consisting of a circular valve of brass with a stuffing-box, C, the exhaust or wastevalve of similar construction D, the piston E, piston-rod; F F, valverods sliding in the tightening-guides G, bolted to the cylinder;

H H, cross heads or bars, carrying the rods F F and valves B O; l, another cross head; K, a condensing apparatus consisting of the condenser K, a valve, L, rod M, valve-rod N, exit water-valve O, steam-pipes P, perforated disks Q, and valve R. S is the main waterpipe from the mine; T, wrought-iron chain rod extending down the mine and attached to thc piston-rod ofthe main pump.` U is the balancechain; V, a counter-weight; W, groove` pulleys;` X, timber frames, to which the whole apparatus is fastened; Y, tappet fastened to the piston rod E; Z, the main liftingpunip, placed at any required depth Vand fitted with the ordinary piston and plungers, with valve and suction-pipe.

The inode of operation is as follows The strength ot' material and area of pump and cylinder being proportioned or determined by the height ot' lift, steam ot' suicient pressuresay about fifty or'sxbty pounds per square inch-is let into the cylinder A by the valve B on the under side of the piston D,which,be ing in connection with the piston-rod E and wroughtiron chain-rod T, attached to the pump below, necessarily raises the column ot` water to the condenser through the valve It. i

When the full stroke is made, the tappet Y closes the valve B, opens the exit-valve C and water-valve L, n hich allows the steam to pass into the condenser, which circulates through the pipes P and helps to raise the valve L. At

thc same time the mine water in the uppir y chamber rushes down through the perforated disks Q in a tine shower, thereby creating a vacuum by condensation. Six inches of rnction is only given to open thescvalvcs. Therefore when the piston D is on the downstroke `within this distance, it shuts the'valve L by the arrangement of the cross sliding bars F, H, and T. lt also closes the valve G, but at the same time opens the valve O, which allows the water to escape. This upand-down motion may be indefinitely communicated by the main chain-rods to the pump below-say at five times per minute.

The weight-chain and pulley U, P, and W perform a very im portant office, which is as follows When the vacuum is created in the con (lensing apparatus, which is always on the downstroke and bymeans of the exhaustvalve (l, which remains open for about the space of six seconds, an atmospheric pressure due to an almost perfect vacuum acts on the piston D through the holes 2, which, together with the weight of the rods below, is very considerable for the downstroke. Now, as' these rods would descend by their own Weight, it necessarily follows that the Weight P can be made nearly equal to the Weight of rozl's and eit'ect produced by vacuum, which, added, equals nearlyfive thousand pounds. The full effect of this force is obtained on the upstroke, so as to raise Water without any eXtra expenditure of steam-power. NOW, as the full force ot' steam on the piston for a mine ot`say three hundred feet-would be about one thousand four hundred pounds bythis combination of condenser and counter-Weigh t, the gain in nearly one-halfotthe force required. The supply and exhaust ports for passage of steam to the cylinder need not be large, as the motion is very slow.

The above apparatus is designed to draina mine ot' three hundred to five hundred feet deep. The main Water-pipe is seven inches i u diameter, made of Wrought-iron, threeeighths thick, and both this and the lentire condenser with its connections are lined with earthenware, glass, or other substance capable of resisting the corrosive action of Water.

When very deep mines require draining and if it is expedient, on account of strength of material being limited, I employ a second or more pumps, which are easily attached and Worked by the one chain-rod of my cylinder. In this case, the Weight V Would be proportionally increased.

It is evident that there is but little friction to overcome, that thelimitas to depth of raising Water is only due to the consideration of strength of material. Cast-iron dischargepipes ot large diameter are generally used for Cornish pumps which give from ten to fifteen strokes per minute.

My wrought-iron pipe of small diameter is bolted or fastened together with viianges and supported by the timbers of the shaft. It is deemed obvious that the above plan of pump possesses several economical features.

The great saving in the use of steam and in construction, compared with the present im.- meu'se contrivance termed a Cornish pumping-engine,77 is believed LQ be in t'avor ot' my plan.

My apparatus has very little friction, and will cost but little to keep it in good order.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of' the several devicesviz., the cylinder A, connected with the main pump by the rods T, exit-pipe S, Weight V,

chain'W,condensing apparatus K, Q, and L,

and the valves B, (l, R, L, and O, substantially and for the purpose as herein set forth.

. THO. M. FELL.

Witnesses:

W. C. DRIPPs, (l. T. CATLIN. 

